This study will test the effects of an educational program about genetics and smoking on smokers' thoughts, feelings, and behaviors before and after participating in smoking cessation treatment. This includes describing participants' knowledge about genetics and smoking, their use of strategies to stop smoking, and experiences when quitting smoking. This study will determine how smokers respond to information about genetics and smoking in anticipation of using genetic information to individualize pharmacological therapy for smoking cessation.

Two groups will participate in this study. The experimental group will participate in two educational sessions about genetics and smoking. The control group will participate in two educational sessions about nutrition. Both the experimental and control groups will participate in a standard, group smoking cessation program with 6 weeks of OTC transdermal nicotine replacement therapy. Assignment to either of the two groups is random.

The primary specific aim is to compare the effects of the experimental group to the attention control group on smoking-related mental representations, appraisals, behaviors, and affective responses over time. The secondary aim is to explore whether personality characteristics (trait negative affectivity and curiosity) and educational level moderate the effects of the genetic educational program on smoking-related mental representations, appraisals, behaviors, and affective responses. The hypotheses of the study are as follows:

When compared to the attention control group, the experimental group will demonstrate:

Appraisals when experimental and attention control groups are compared. [ Time Frame: 6 months after the end of the Smoking Cessation Intervention ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Perceived risk for genetic predisposition to smoking, and self-efficacy for cessation and abstinence.

Smoking-related behavior when experimental and attention control groups are compared. [ Time Frame: 6 months after the end of the Smoking Cessation Intervention ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Use of cessation strategies, abstinence, and interest in genotyping.

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Differences in mental representations based on personality characteristics and education level. [ Time Frame: 6 months after the end of the Smoking Cessation Intervention ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Smoker and abstainer self-schemas.

Differences in smoking-related behaviors based on personality characteristics and education level. [ Time Frame: 6 months after the end of the Smoking Cessation Intervention ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Number of quit attempts and nicotine dependence.

Differences in affective responses based on personality characteristics and education level. [ Time Frame: 6 months after the end of the Smoking Cessation Intervention ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

The objectives are to: discuss the impact of the human genome project; define basic genetic concepts and terminology; distinguish between single-gene and multifactorial genetic diseases/conditions; describe genetic counseling/testing; identify uses of pharmacogenetics; discuss psychological and legal/ethical implications of genetic discoveries; smoking as a multifactorial behavior; findings of epidemiological studies about smoking heritability; research about candidate genotypes DRD2 and CYP2A6; and potential use of genotyping to tailor smoking cessation treatment.

Behavioral: Genetic Education Session

The intervention includes receiving education about genetics and smoking. The content is basic genetics and education about the multifactorial nature of smoking; research findings about genetic contributions to smoking, potential applications of this research for cessation treatment, and legal, ethical and social implications of future use of genotyping for cessation. All participants also receive a 5-week standard cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation intervention with 6 weeks of OTC transdermal nicotine replacement therapy.

Other Name: GES

Active Comparator: Nutrition Education Session (NES)

Behavioral: Nutrition Education Session

To control for an attention placebo effect, the control group will receive information about nutritional guidelines as established by the USDA and the FDA. The attention control group will be referred to as the Nutritional Education Session (NES) group. The content of NES sessions one and two are use of the USDA (MyPyramid) dietary and food safety guidelines. All participants also receive a 5-week standard cognitive-behavioral smoking cessation intervention with 6 weeks of OTC transdermal nicotine replacement therapy.

Agree to use two forms of acceptable birth control while using the nicotine replacement patch

Exclusion Criteria:

Not currently seeking treatment for a mental disorder with psychotic symptoms

Not currently pregnant nor nursing

Not been recently diagnosed or currently affected with cancer or any other life-threatening illness

No recent heart attack

No history of high blood pressure or not currently receiving treatment to manage high blood pressure

No history of an irregular heartbeat

Not currently taking medications to help quit smoking (i.e. Chantix, Zyban or Wellbutrin, NRT)

No history of adverse effects from using nicotine replacement patches

Not currently experiencing serious pain or discomfort due to heart disease

Contacts and Locations

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To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01186016